Mercedes driver Bottas fastest in F1 testing in Barcelona

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas had the fastest lap on the final day of Formula One testing in Barcelona on Wednesday.

Bottas had a time of 1 minute, 16.904 seconds at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, just ahead of Ferrari reserve driver Antonio Giovinazzi.

McLaren’s young reserve driver Lando Norris was third fastest.

Bottas’ time was the fastest ever in testing at Barcelona, although it was about eight tents of a second slower than the track record set by teammate Lewis Hamilton in qualifying for last weekend’s Spanish Grand Prix.

Giovinazzi ran 148 laps on Wednesday, the most of the 13 drivers who made it to the track.

Kevin Magnussen of Haas, Charles Leclerc of Sauber and Pierre Gasly of Toro Rosso also took part, with most other teams using junior and development drivers.

Williams used reserve driver Robert Kubica, who at the weekend was back in an official F1 session for the first time since almost losing his hand in a rally accident in 2011.

Max Verstappen had the fastest time with Red Bull on the first day of testing on Tuesday, clocking 1: 17.538.